AVON SCHOOL BOARD TO SEEK FUNDS FOR PROJECTS

The board of education's capital improvement budget proposal for 1997-98 will include new ceiling tiles and carpeting for some classrooms at Roaring Brook School.

And depending on how a study of the boiler at the Towpath School Annex turns out, the capital budget proposal may ultimately include some new playground equipment for the school.

School board members Tuesday decided to ask the town council to fund $95,473 for three proposed capital improvement projects -- work at Roaring Brook School and, if necessary, a new boiler for the Towpath School Annex estimated to cost $43,000.

The three items had been recommended by a board subcommittee that narrowed down various capital improvement proposals. At last month's meeting, 13 projects totaling more than $1.3 million had been identified in a five-year projection for capital improvements.

But members Tuesday decided that if further study shows the annex boiler only needs a few thousand dollars in repairs, the school board will modify its proposal to the town council. Instead, the school board would include $13,755 for new playground equipment for students in kindergarten and the primary grades.

That and another proposal to buy additional intermediate playground equipment for Roaring Brook School have been deferred for the past few years because of funding.

Tuesday, board member David Shopis said he could not support deferring the purchase of the playground equipment any longer and voted against the entire capital budget proposal. Shopis cast the sole opposing vote Tuesday.

Board member Martin Toyen, a member of the board subcommittee that compiled the recommendations, said discussions over whether to include a proposal for the playground equipment were long and arduous.

Ultimately, he said, the subcommittee prioritized work inside the building over the outdoor playground equipment. If approved, the new ceiling tiles and grids for 22 classrooms and carpeting for eight classrooms would complete the internal renovations at the school.